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In the fiercely-competitive music arena, having just a great voice is often not enough. With waves of new acts coming swiftly, versatility plays a crucial role for one to secure and sustain a spot in the industry. And one gifted lass from Davao City has proven this true.

Earlier in May, Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan released her sophomore album fittingly titled, “Soul Supremacy.” The follow-up to her self-titled debut record released in 2014 highlights her well-roundedness as a musician: it showcases her rapping skills, her mastery of using vocal effects, and her knack for songwriting.

Grateful for second album

“Finally, after three years!”

This is how Tandingan gushingly opened her Roadshow interview with DJ Robin Nievera last July 10. As she dished out details about her latest offering, she said that she is grateful as “not all artists are given the chance to release a sophomore album.”

During her guesting, the 25-year-old X-Factor Philippines grand winner also spoke highly of album producer Jonathan Manalo.

“I love him so much because when we record songs, he always makes sure that I get to do my stuff without making my music too overwhelming for my audience. It’s like, I can get crazy, but not too crazy,” she explained.

Musical direction

The carrier single “Labo” speaks for the rest of the songs in Tandingan’s album.

“Most of my songs [in the album] have that Labo vibe – it has rap and is upbeat,” she stated while saying that her listeners can listen to that Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako feel in the other cuts.

“Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako” is a ballad that propelled her to the top of local music and radio charts back in 2014. The song’s tender tune can be heard in one of the more emotionally stirring songs from her latest effort, the self-penned “Halik Na Lang.”

“Halik Na Lang is different from the rest of the album tracks — it is more somber because I am only accompanied by piano and string,” KZ enthused.

“It’s a song about something that I went through last year. When I started a romantic relationship with [fellow musician] TJ Monterde, I had to go through a lot of adjustments. As he is my first boyfriend, there are moments when I thought that a relationship should be like this, or like that,” she revealed, admitting that the said year was a “year of growth” for her.

Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan with Roadshow Wish jock, Robin Nievera

A compilation of collaborations

“Soul Supremacy” is released under Star Music and features her collaborations with labelmate Michael Pangilinan for “Siya’y Darating” and with England-born rapper/songwriter REQ for “With You.”

The album also includes “Intro Lude,” a song she co-wrote with Monterde, “Nag-iisa Na Naman,” “Dapithapon,” “Imposible,” “Afraid,” “Sayang,” and the Gloc-9-penned, “Sa Aking Mga Kamay.”

It also has three bonus tracks: “Sa’yo,” a Tagalog version of “With You;” “ Ikaw at Ako pa Rin,” a duet with Monterde; and her smash hit, “Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako.”

Apart from her record, she also gifted her fans with two new soundtrack recordings – her revival of Air Supply’s “Two Less Lonely People in The World” for the romantic comedy film, “Kita Kita (I See You),” and “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin” for the hit TV drama “La Luna Sanggre.”

While on her Roadshow stint, she also thanked her avid supporters who helped her WIShclusive performance of “Tadhana” reach 13 million YouTube hits. This qualifies her to be part of the WISHclusive Elite Circle, a group of artists whose videos on the Wish 107.5 YouTube channel have garnered at least 10 million views.